but Bochim's Humble your selves under the mighty Hand of God in your Debasements Do not rise against them whom the mighty Hand of God hath exalted lest haply ye be found sighters against God Plotting and Fighting will not bring Mercies again that a People have sinned away God needs none of our sins to advance his Sons Kingdom When God hath softened our hearts by his sweet Grace he can and will if he see it best tender the hearts of our Superiours to pitty us by his most powerful Providence How did these Mourners at last find an heart touched by a mighty Hand that called them out of their Graves and made open Proclamation for their return as you read 2 Chron. 36.22 23. Secondly Neither is it any part of the business of this Doctrine to embitter you into Schism and sepation from the Assemblies that through Mercy are yet continued which I for my part dare not but call or at least some of them Solemn Assemblies Church Assemblies though perchance in my eye they may want something of that Solemnity Majesty Purity and Power which I and you could desire they had If you may not hear me yet it is some mercy that you and I may hear some others I would not so mourn for what is not as to forget to bless God for what yet is I hope there are yet them to be found that preach Christ of good will and in the simplicity of their hearts continue in their work though many of God's willing Servants have not freedom so to do Take heed of extreams It is the ordinary temptation in a time of Differences to think we cannot run too far from them we differ from and so whilst we decline one Rock we split our selves upon another Remember the old Non-conformists were equal enemies to Superstition and Separation Maintain I beseech you sober Principles such as these are that every defective Ministry is not a false Ministry That sinful Super-additions do not nullifie Divine Institutions That Impurities do not make Ordinances Nullities no more than Leprosie doth unman him that hath it That sinful defects in Ordinances do not hinder the saving Effects of them The seed may come up that is sown by a leprous-hand That there is a difference betwixt directing a Worship prescribing things simply evil and manifestly Idoltrous and directing about Worship things doubtfully good being enjoyned but the unquestionable substance of Worship being maintained This latter doth not justifie separation If Corruptions in Worship I mean such do unchurch a Church it will be hard to find when there was a true Church or where one will be found That the Church of England was a true Church a true reformed Church though not a full compleatly reformed Church is acknowledged by most sober Spirits A man of name amongst the Brethren of the Congregational Perswasion speaking of the Church of England and its first Reformation hath these words As for the great things of the Gospel matters of Faith or Doctrine the Reformers had so happy an hand therein that there is to be found little if any hay and stubble therein But in matters of Order which concern Worship and Discipline let it be enquired into whether they were so exact therein Although this must be said that God did take care for all fundamental Ordinances of Worship And it is a bitter Error and full of Cruelty to say That we have had no Churches no Ministers no Sacraments but Antichristianal So far Dr. T. Goodwyn Fast Serm. before Parl. on Zech. 4.6 7 8. Now me-thinks if it was a True Church notwithstanding some supposed Corruptions retained it should be to still notwithstanding those by some reputed Corruptions returned for if the Disease do not unman a man his Relapse into it after a recovery cannot We have still that Doctrine professed we have still those fundamental Ordinances maintained And methinks where a Church as to the main keeps the Form of found Words and the Substantials of that Worship which is Christ's some adjudged defects in order cannot justifie Separation I dare not dismember my self from that Church that holds the Head I think whilst Doctrine is for the main sound Christ stayes with a Church and it is good staying where he stays I would follow him and not lead him or go before the Lamb. That speech of the beloved Disciple 2 John 9. may without wrong be applied to a Church He that abides in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father the Son It may be some may think that these Times that are gone over us have left an obligation upon us in an orderly peaceable way to endeavour Reformation I have no call here to debate that but this I am sure of they have withal brought forth many sad warnings against separation in the sad Apostacies both in judgment and practise which many of that generation of men have been left unto Therefore 1. Maintain communion as far as you can 2. Crave indulgence where you cannot 3. Mourn in secret over what in pulick you cannot help let that which upon good grounds you judge a corruption have that work upon you which Peninnahs provocations had upon Hannah make you weep sore and pour out your hearts before God if there be any smoak in God's Temple let it be smoak to your eyes 4. Enlarge your care and pains in your preparations a right stomach makes good nourishment of an indifferent meal You may be warm though in a colder air and room than you have formerly been if you will but put on more cloaths before you come 5. Watch your hearts more narrowly and speak you things to your hearts more than ever you have done you will not so well know what to do with your hearts if you do not increase own your watch and pains It is the wise man's speech Eccl. 10.10 If the Iron be blunt and he doth not whet the edge then must he put to more strength Now 3. I come to tell you what the errand of this my Doctrine is And it is an exhortation first to all upon whom at this day any measure or degree of this affliction lies And then secondly to some who have a larger share in this affliction than others First then You that are losing or have lost your Solemn Assemblies know that you have a loud call unto mourning The Wayes of Zion mourn after a manner Lam. 1.4 let us mourn after a Godly manner who are the Inhabitants of Zion because the channels of comfort that have releived our souls are gon or going far from us Such dews should fall at or after Sun-setting Jeremiah puts this into his Lamentation that God had violently taken away his Tabemacle as of a garden He hath destroied his places of Assembly The Lord hath caused the solemn Feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion Lam. 2.6 Mercies use to be most lovely when they have their backs upon us and we best see the worth in the want of
l. 26. r. go on P. 108. marg r. Tarnov P. 110. l. 17. f. ye r. we P. 119. l. 34. r. as to say P. 120. l. 6. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 122. l. 15. r. to be saved l. 16. dele us P. 125. l. 33. r. dearly P. 126. l. 17. f. his r. their P. 129. l. 3. r. deny Christ l. 10. r. many of us Christians P. 135. l. 32. f. them r whom P. 137. l. 32. r. others P. 138. l. 25. f. dulce r. datae l. 26. r. voluble P. 140. l. 2. f. we r. may P. 150. l. 6. r. forbear l. 11. dele not P. 152. l. 25. r. labitur labetur c. l. 29. r. indesinenter P. 157. l. 20. r. humane apprehension P. 159. l. 10 11. r. exceed all expressions P. 177. l. 14. r. restraint Correct the Figures from pag. 180 to 193. P. 180. l. 13. r. old P. 181. l. 35. r. vis unita P. 185. l. 32. r. incollumen P. 189. l. 28. r. heaviness P. 198. l. 25. r. individuum P. 200. l. 28. r. minutatim P. 204. l. 1. dele non P. 206. l. 22. r. Authority P. 207. l. 1. r. of Christ P. 210. l. 12. r. as accomplished P. 214. l. 5. r. Phil. r. 23. P. 215. l. 1. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 216. l. 11. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 224. l. 15. r. to do P. 229. 31. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 231. l. 30. r. lay it not P. 235. l. 1. r. a wrong P. 241. l. 2 3. r. which they l. 29. r. double P. 248. l. 32. r. from want P. 260. l. 16. r. off from P. 261. l. 3. r. but I hasten P. 274. l. 14. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 277. l. 16. dele as it were l. 32. r. his own P. 279. l. 14. f. that r. our l. 22. dele but. P. 282. l. 16. r. As when 283. l. 14. r. of suffering with Christ l. 15. f. image r. death 285. l. 23. r. practise it l. 29. r. supply and we shall overcome P. 311. l. 15. f. Her r. his 313. l. ult r. Midian 319. l. 15. r. Achaia 320. l. 20. r. glorying 326. l. 15. r. despondent l. 17. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 328. l. 17. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 336. l. 12. r. burnt offerings 345. l. 16. r. God makes 368. l. 15. r. inferiour world 394. l. 13. r. Cross of Christ P. 416. l. 14. r. improve 422. l. 12. Troublers P. 431. l. 32. r. Not mentioning 448. l. 9 10. r. against the Mountains 451. l. 11. r. Security 452. l. 25. r. warm 456. l. 22. r. your own 464. l. 18. r. have not There are other faults besides but these especially are to be corrected SERMON I. Preached Friday June 27. 1662. Revel 3. v. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent c. I Have gone through the whole second Chapter of this Book and the two first verses of this in my course of preaching the Friday-Lecture I shall enter upon this third verse at this time by God's assistance The words contain further counsel and direction given by our Saviour Christ to this Church of Sardis in order to her recovery from that formality and spiritual deadness she was sunk into Two Directions Christ had given her in the second verse Be watchful and strengthen c. There are three more added in this Remember c. hold fast and repent The third in order and first laid down in this verse is to remember Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard This is prescribed as a means to recover them from their spiritual decayes and deadness and to cure them of that formality hypocrisie they had been guilty of Christ had told them in the former verses that they had a name to live but were dead and that their works were not perfect or full before God Now the way to cure them of these distempers was to remember how they had received and heard implying that it was forgetfulness of those Truths Rules and Directions they had received in and heard from the Word of God that was the cause of their declining and that the way to recover vigour and liveliness in Religion and to fill up their works was to remember how they had received and heard So that the way to bring either Churches or persons to their former vigour in Religion and to a thorow-reformation of things amiss is to bring all things to the Test of God's Word to weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary and to try them by those Divine Truths they have formerly received and heard Briefly to explain the words Remember This may be taken first for the act of that particular faculty of the soul called Reminiscentia or Memory and so to remember is to recollect or call back a thing or object formerly heard received and laid up in the Memory Secondly It may be taken for an act of the Judgement and so to remember is seriously to weigh and consider Truths formerly received and heard and it may be well understood here so as to take in both senses How thou hast received 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qualia and would have it refer to the quality of the things or truths they had received and heard Remember what Doctrines were delivered by Christ and his Apostles what kind of Worship was instituted and practised by them This sense of the words I shall not exclude but the word relates rather to the manner how Truths and Ordinances were delivered to them and received by them Several Doctrines might be raised from the words Doct. 1. That one great cause of declining in Religion both in Churches and particular Christians is the forgetfulness of those Truths they have formerly received and heard the forgetting what and how they have received and heard Doct. 2. That the best way to recover and reform a declining Church or person is to bring them back to the Rule of God's Word which they have received and heard to reduce both Doctrine Worship and Practices to the first Institution as it is contained in the Scriptures There are other Doctrines that I might raise and insist on from these words but I shall sum up all I intend to speak from this direction in this one Doctrine Doct. That it is the duty of Churches and particular Christians and a special means to recover them from formality declinings and deadness in Religion and the exercise of Grace to remember what and how they have received and heard Christians should remember old Truths that they have received and heard long ago They should remember what Truths they have heard and what Ordinances they have injoyed and also after what manner Truths and Ordinances have been dispensed to them and received by them It is our duty to take care we be not forgetful hearers that we suffer not Truths to slip out of
endure So Christians you should do as you are exhorted Heb. 10.32 Remember what baths of godly sorry and compunction of spirit you found in hearing what earnest pantings after Christ and his Ordinances Could you not once say as the Psalmist Psal 42.1 2. 63.1 2. 84.1 2. Remember what flames of Divine Love to God Jesus Christ and his People you once felt burning in your hearts Remember those Raptures of Joy you have felt while you have been with joy drawing Waters out of the Wells of Salvation Remember with what delight and complacency you conversed in holy duties what zeal you had for God and his Ministers how even the zeal of Gods house eat you up O when you begin to feel your affections cool and grow flat say Why am I thus Is not God and Christ as lovely and desirable the Wayes of God as delightfull and pleasant as ever Such a remembrance how you have received will be a means to keep up a lively frame of heart in most dead times 4. Christians should remember with what readiness of mind they heard and received the Word of God with what holy resolutions to obey the Truth and to give up themselves to be guided by it and to walk with God to live and die in Gods wayes and for them too if God called them to it Thus God's People have received the Word So did those mentioned Isa 2.2 3. Acts 10.33 and so have you if ever you received it savingly Oh remember this as a means to quicken you when you find holy resolutions to cool in you 5. Christians should remember with what impressions upon their hearts they have received the Word and Sacraments Oh remember Christians what impressions Truths and Ordinances were wont to leave upon your hearts what work they made in your souls what wounds were given to sin what heart-meltings and heart-revivings you have found while one while your hearts have been melted yea even dissolved into penitential tears and another while filled with raptures of spiritual joy What workings of Faith Love Desires Hath it not been thus with you sometimes Christians Oh remember this to quicken you when you grow dead and can yea do sit under Ordinances with few if any such impressions as these are 6. And lastly Remember with what efficacy you have heard and received the Word and Ordinances of God You should remember what gracious effects have been wrought in and produced on your souls by these Oh Christians you should remember what good you have got by the Word Sacraments Prayer Communion of Saints what communion with God you have enjoyed in them and what of God you have received by and through them what quicknings what comforts you have been made partakers of while you have been attending upon them Have you not found the Word and Sacraments and other Ordinances of God wounding yea killing your corruptions enabling you to overcome temptations strengthening of grace enabling you to duty Hath not God spoken Peace to your souls in and through these Hath he not administred comfort to your souls in times of dissertion under sore afflictions against most bitter sufferings and most hot and fiery persecutions Oh remember this to keep your hearts alive in and your love warm and lively unto those precious Truths and Ordinances you have received so much good through how much soever they may be despised and scorn'd by others SERMON II. Preached Lords-day July 6. 1662. Rev. 3.3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent c. BEloved when I entred on this verse in my coâ—â—â— of the Friday-Lecture I little thought that I â—aâ—â— so short a time to preach among you I hoped I shoâ—â— have enjoyed some further opportunities for some â—ew weeks at least as long as the Act of Vniformity â—llowes But it hath pleased God by his wise and holy Providence to order it otherwise I being suspended from preaching here from this day forward for Non-conformity how regularly or legally on mans part I shall not dispute but leave to the righteous God to determine I desire that both you and I may not eye man but God in this dispensation I did not think to have preached my Farewel-Sermon to you from these words but having begun this Text and finding the matter of it so seasonable and suitable to rhis sad occasion I shall by God's assistance proceed in the handling of it Being probably like to preach no more unto you I judge it very seasonable to leave the Exhortation in the Text with you to call upon you that you would remember what and how you have received and heard and 〈◊〉 hold fast those wholsom Truths you have heard and those precious Ordinances at least the remembrance impressions and gracious effects of them that you have enjoyed and been priviledged with and also to repent of those sins which have provoked and may further provoke God to come on us as a thief to take away many of his Ministers from among us The words as I have already shewed are Christs counsel to a languishing Church and to decaied Christians to repair decaied Godliness and Religion in a Church and in the hearts and lives of particular Christians which renders them more seasonable to these days we live in and to the condition of many of our souls I have already opened the Doctrine and confirm'd it by several Scriptures Namely That it is the duty both of Churches and particular Christians and a special means to recover them from formality decaies and deadness in Religion and the exercise of Grace to remember what and how they have received and heard I should now proceed to give you the reasons of the Doctrine but I shall chuse rather to reserve them to the Application and then press them as Motives to inforce the Counsel and Exhortation grounded on the Text and Doctrine and so shall immediately proceed to Application Vse 1. The first Use is of Information 1. It informs us that there is somewhat more required of Christians than bare hearing of Sermons receiving and partaking of Sacraments and other Ordinances It is not enough to hear and receive but it is the duty of Christians also to remember what and how they have received and heard what good they have got by and what communion with God they have injoyed in the use of the Word and Ordinances 2. It informs us what it is we are to make the rule of our Faith Practice namely the Word of God contained in the Scriptures and the Truths you have heard rightly grounded theron They ought to be the Standard to which we should bring all Doctrines preached all things introduced into Divine Worship and imposed upon us in practice Bring all things to this Test It is your duty to search and study the Scriptures and bring all things to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to these it is because there is no light in them
is as the driving home of the nail That which one forgets another may remember Improve private conference and speak often one to another and when you meet together be more spiritual savory and profitable in your discourse than heretofore you have been and then especially when you may have fewer publick opportunities Time may come when this may be one of the best helps you may have It may be God may cut you short of many publick advantages to chasten you for your not using or improving private communion of Saints and to quicken you to use and improve holy conference and other private duties more and better 5. A fifth means to help you to remember what and how you have received and heard is Earnest and fervent prayer to God that He would strengthen your memories and give his Spirit to you according to his promise to bring all things to your remembrance Commit Truths to the Spirit 's keeping and trust not onely to your own memories Often plead that promise with God John 14.26 Christ would not trust his Disciples alone with his Sermons He knew their memories were slippery But He intrusts his Spirit to bring things to their remembrance and the Spirit can and will bring Truths to your remembrances in the most seasonable time And lastly Endeavour to practise the things you have received and heard and that will be a means to help you to remember them Labour to get good by the Word and Ordinances and you will not soon forget them He who daily writes after a Copy wil be better able to remember it long after Psal 119.93 I will never forget thy Precepts for by them thou hast quickned me Those Sermons Sacraments and other Ordinances in and by which God hath quickned and comforted you you will not forget So much for handling this Doctrine Might I have had liberty to preach to you as long as I hoped and the Law allowed I should have handled the two other Directions in the Text Hold fast and Repent But seeing I am like to preach to you no more I shall briefly touch upon them and leave them with you in a way of Exhortation A fourth Direction Christ gives to this Church in order to recovering of her from her deadness and formality is To hold fast what she had received The Doctrine is That it is the duty of Christians and a means to recover declining Churches and Christians to hold fast what they have received and heard And indeed without this you cannot be strengthned by it That which you have lost and let slip will do you but little good You must not onely remember but also hold fast I shall not handle this Doctrinally Time will not permit it And besides I have formerly insisted on this Doctrine and duty from the 13th and 25th verses of the second Chapter I shall therefore onely leave the Exohortation with you Hold fast what you have received and heard And here I shall briefly shew you first What you should hold fast 2ly Against what 3ly How you may do it First What you should hold fast 1. Hold fast the Doctrine of the Gospel you have received and heard Do not let go any Truth of God Buy the Truth but sell it not at any rate Prov. 23.23 You may meet with those that would pluck it from you but be sure you hold it fast 2 Tim. 1.13 14. 2. Hold fast the plain pure and powerful Ordinances of God Oh do not let these go at least not through your default Let them not go for want of prayers and tears to keep them But may some say How if they should be gone How if God for our sins should take them away Why however yet 3. Be sure you hold fast a high estimation of the Word and pure Ordinances of God If ever you should want them yet prize and esteem them as your treasure let the want of Spiritual Mercies teach you more to value the worth of them Though you should lose many of your mercies and opportunities yet be sure you do not lose your esteem of them 4. Be sure you hold fast your love to the Truths and Ordinances of God as wel in the want as in the enjoyment of them Love the Word and love the Ministers of Christ even then when you may be deprived of them 5. Hold fast your appetite and stomach to the Word Ordinances of God though you should lose some of your meat take heed you lose not your stomach with your meat If you have lesse food yet you should labour to have the better stomachs Oh beg of God that though he should suffer your food to fail yet that he would not take away your appetites but keep them fresh and lively In temporals it would be a mercy if men wanted meat to want a stomach but in Spirituals it will be a mercy though you should have little food yet to have a good stomach continued This will be a pledge of Gods returning and restoring wanted and desired mercies For God hath said He will satisfie the hungry soul with bread 6. Lastly be sure you hold fast the good you have got by the Word Prayer Sacraments the Ministers and Ordinances of Christ Though you should part with these things themselves yet be sure you retain and hold fast the good you have got by them and those impressions of God's Spirit that have bin made on your hearts through under them And all this you must hold fast which leads to the 2d Particular against 1. The fraud and deceit of Seducers and Deceivers who would go about to cheat and cozen you of the great and precious Truths of the Gospel and of the true instituted Worship of God The Apostle tells you that such will a rise that will privily bring in damnable heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. and the Apostle Paul speaks of the sleights and cunning craftiness of men their methods to deceive They will perhaps plead Antiquity Tradition the Authority of the Church the Suffrage of Ancient Fathers Custom Example yea seeming Reason for many Opinions and Practices But Christians be not cheated of your Religion but that which you have received of the Lord Christ and hath been delivered to you by the Apostles in the Word those Truths and instructions of Christ do you hold fast Secondly Hold fast the Truths and Ordinances of Christ as against the fraud of Deceivers so against the force and violence of Persecutors As you should not be fawned so neither should you be frighted out of any one Truth or Ordinance of God or out of your love to desires after or owning of them Thirdly And the means to enable you to hold fast what you have received are 1. Diligent attendance on the publick Ordinances and Worship of God if and when you can enjoy them in any measure according to Gods will though not altogether in that manner you desire and they should be administred in I hope that for those many praying
is a reduplication of this Votum Apostolicum for so some reade it Gratia inquam adsit omnibus c. In words it is more contracted but in sense more comprehensive than the former verse thus I wâ—sh Peace Love Faith to the Brethren yea Grace all spiritual and heavenly blessings to you and all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity By Grace he meaneth omnimodam Gratiam all sorts of Grace having mentioned already Peace Love and Faith which are excellent graces yet are they not all Grace therefore he adds Grace that he may take his leave of these his beloved Brethren in the same manner as he resolved to come to others Rom. 15.29 In the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ In the Text are two principal parts 1. A Character of a right Christian a Christian indeed as Christ said of Nathaniel Behold an Israelite indeed he is one that loveth our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity For the Apostle wisheth not so great good to all that pretend love to Christ to Hypocrites but to such as love him unfeignedly 2. The subject matter of his wish what it is he desireth for sincere lovers of Christ it is Grace Not outward good things as health long-life riches honour though he excludeth not them nay Peace in the largest sense may include them and Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come But the Apostle willing to give them a brief Epitome of his large heart and good wishes for them doth it in this one word Grace as not knowing any bâ—tâ—er thing for them Doct. 1. Jesus Christ is our Lord. He is Lord of all Aâ—ts 10.36 but especially he is Lord of his Church which is his house Heb. 3.6 1. He built the house it is He that made us not we our selves 2. He hath moreover bought us Acts 20.28 the Church which he hath purchased with his own blood 3. Him hath God the Father exalted to be a Prince c. Acts 5.31 and Phil. 2.9 Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him c. Vse Let all things in the Church be regulated according to the Institutions of our Lord Christ Let Ministers who are Stewards over the House of God be wise and faithful to preach no other Doctrine administer no other Sacraments exercise no other Discipline introduce no other Rites into Divine Worship than what they have good warrant for from the Lord Jesus Christ and can say with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.23 I received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you 2. Let all that profess hope of Salvation by Jesus Christ receive him for their Lord to rule over them as well as for their Saviour to redeem them Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things which I say Luke 6.46 So we profess in our Creed I believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and so in the close of our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. So let it appear in our Lives and Gospel-becoming-conversations But this I pass over There are two Doctrines arising from the two several parts of the Text which I am to insist upon And as I am to preach this day not knowing whether I shall ever have the liberty to preach again so I would have you to hear as not sure whether you may ever hear again Doct. 1. It is the character of a right Christian to love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity 2. The Apostle wisheth Grace to all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity as the best thing he could wish them 1. Of the first It is the character of a right Christian to love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Qu. To love Christ in sincerity what is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the letter of the Original is as much to say as in incorruption So reade the Interlin and vulgar Jesus Christ the Incorruptible God So reads the Ethiopick Arab. Amore non vitiato neque culpato that love Christ with a love not faulty nor blame-worthy which agrees best with the sense of Interpreters who render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incorruptly sincerely not feignedly It being the Apostles purpose by this phrase to exclude all rotten Hypocrites from the benefits he wisheth to good Christians Ubi notandum est hoc Apostolicum votum non in sceleratis hypocritis sed in sinceris tantum Christi Discipulis qui viz. Christum incorrupto animo diligunt locum habere Vorstius More particularly To love Christ in sincerity is the act or affection of a gracious heart whereby knowing the excellency and worth of Christ he desires union with him preferreth him communion with him and obedience to his Commandments before all things in the world 1. What it is to love Christ 2. In sincerity 1. Love of Christ implieth knowledge of him of his Worthiness and high Deserts Right Love is no blind affection but ariseth from Light and Understanding of the loveliness of the Object upon which it is placed and to which it is carried forth Cant. 5.10 The Church describing at large the Excellencies of Christ whom her soul loveth concludes ver 16. He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altogether lovely or desirable 2. From knowledge of the worth that is in Christ springeth desire of union and communion with him A man desires to be near his Friend in whom he delighteth loveth his company converseth with him Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight Psal 86.11 Unite my heart David desired to dwell in the House of God for ever because he loved him Psal 23. ult The wise Merchant buyeth gets into his possession the Pearl which he prized Matth. 13.46 3. Hence followeth an high esteem of Christ so as he preferreth him to all other things whatsoever He seeth no beauty excellency comparable to his Cant. 5.10 The chiefest of ten thousand Psal 63.1 My soul thirsteth for thee 4. Lastly The loving soul is most obedient 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth him so as he thinketh nothing too hard to do or suffer nothing too dear to part with for Christs sake Amanti nihil durum 2. What it is to love Christ in sincerity 1. It is to love him with the whole heart according to the utmost extent of that phrase Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul c. Isa 26.8 The desire of our soul is unto thee This is to love without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 To love not in word and in tongue but in deed and in truth 1 John 3.18 Where love is sincere there is idem velle nolle as if two hearts were in one body We love Christ sincerely or with all the heart when his will is ours our will is conformable to his when his Laws are so wrirten in our hearts that we are wholly his to be commanded as men subscribe their Letters to their friends Yours to
be shed in vain nor my labour lost nor the enemies of the Church advantaged by your careless neglect of your duty or by being infected with the leaven of false doctrines but be laborious and immovable and couragious that your People may be preserved and your selves freed from the blood of all men And then for their better comfort and security against Persecution by open and professed Enemies on the one hand and against erroneous heretical and superstitious doctrines on the other hand he committeth them to God and the Word of his Grace The words of the Text are part of Paul's Farewel to the beloved Ephesians and must now be the subject of my Valediction to you And if you will have a name for my Text it is The Pastors Farewell to his People or rather A departing Pastors Security for his left People Paul spake to them as a departing man but a living Minister and Apostle I speak them as a living man but a dying Minister He told them after his departure they should see his face no more but in my dying expiring Office I have living hopes that when the dayes for the slaying of the Witnesses if now be the time are accomplished I shall be restored to you again Rev. 11.7 8 9 11 13. In the words you have a twofold Remedy in opposition to a twofold Malady The first Malady is the Churches affliction and pesecution mentioned verse 29. for which the Apostle prescribeth God as the Soveraigne cure and remedy I now commend you to God The second malady is Errour and Heresie by which many should be deceived mentioned verse 30. for which the Apostle prescribeth God's Word as the proper remedie and now I commend you to God and his Word which is further amplified first by the adjunct title Grace and the Word of his Grace secondly by the effects of this Word first Edification secondly Life eternal which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified And then the title given to these Ministers of Ephesus Brethren And now Brethren I commend you to God and the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Before I come to the Doctrine I chiefly intend give me leave briefly to touch tanquam Canis ad Nilum upon one observation from the Apostles relative name to the Ministers of Ephesus he calls them Brethren Whence note Doct. That true and real Chr stians are Brethren What the Apostle Paul calls here the Ministers of Ephesus is true concerning all Ministers and all converted Christians We read of several sorts and kinds of Brethren in Scripture Brethren by Nature Brethren by Nation Brethren by Relation Brethren by Affection Brethren by Profession manner of Imployment and same Calling in the world but the Fraternity of Christians is from the Noblest and firmest and happiest foundation Eodem sanguine Christi glutinati cemented with the same blood of Christ This Brotherhood â—f Christians is supernatural founded on the Newâ—â—rth and work of Grace in the soul this term and â—â—lative name is so usual in Scripture in this sence that â—â—â—s needless to mention any But for further deâ—â—â—strations of it they are Brethren 1. They have all one Father even God himself To them that do receive him he gave power to become the Sons of God which are not born of flesh nor of blood nor of the will of man but by the will of God John 10.11 12. 2. They have all one Mother the Church of God But Jerusalem which is from above is free which is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 3. They have all one elder Brother Jesus Christ The first born amongst many Brethren Rom. 8.29 4. They have all the same priviledges 1 Cor. 3.23 Ephes 4.4 5 6. 5. They are cloathed with the same spiritual garment the Righteousness of Jesus Christ Jer. 23.6 6. They have the same Divine Nature Grace and Holiness whereby they resemble their elder Brother and bear the impress and image of their heavenly Father 2 Pet. 1.4 7. They are admitted to the same Table fed with the same food of God's holy Word and feasted with the Flesh and Blood of the Son of God unto Life Eternal 8. They all have one and the same Inheritance An inheritance incorruptable and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in the Heavens for them 1 Pet. 1.4 I cannot stand to enlarge upon these I leave them to your meditations and enlargments From hence you learn these Lessons 1. That God is no respecter of persons he regards no man the more for his dignities riches nobleness of birth and pedegree And esteems no man the less for his povertie meaness and contemtibleness in the world But every one that doth righteousness of what Nation soever shall be accepted of him all mens blood is alike the noble man and the mean man the Englishman and the Aethiopian have all red blood in their veins it is sickness and health that makes the difference So all men by nature are alike it is sin and Grace that makes the difference Yea God crosseth the great things of the world to teach us what is of high esteem amongst men is of small account with God Brethren sayes the Apostle you see your calling how that not many wise men not many great men not many noble men after the flesh are called but God hath chosen the foolish and weak things of the world to condemn the wise and strong 1 Cor. 1.26 He hath chosen the poor of the world rich in Faith and Heirs of a Kingdom James 2.5 2. We learn again True Piety is great preferment Grace and Holiness lifts a man up to the noblest relations Great was the perferment that Joseph was lifted up unto when of a prisoner he became the second of Egypt Great was the perferment of Daniel when of a captive he was made cheif of the Presidents of Babylon But greater was the advancement of Esther when of a captive maid fatherless and motherless she became Queen to the great Ashasuerus Josephs and Daniels wisdom and Esthers beauty were the instruments and means of their great and honourable advancements But greater than these is the honour and advancement of such as are truly Pious they are Children of God John 1.11 12. Heirs of God Co-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 espoused to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords there is none beyond this none to be compared to it Grace and Holiness is the way and means to be thus advanced Grace enobles the mean and makes the Noble more honourable as it was said of St. Jerome so it may be said of every Noble Pious man Genere nobilis Sanctitate nobilior Noble by birth but more Noble by Grace meaness with Grace is Nobleness and Nobleness without Grace is but meaness Grace brings a poor contemned botchy Lazarus into relation of the Noblest Worthies of the world to Abraham Isaac
in vers 7. of his directions in the 5th and 6th verses would have been inconsequential And we find the Edification of the Church by Word and Sacraments is a duty imposed upon Presbyters 1 Pet. 5.2 Feed the Flock of God among you And Paul in his Valediction injoyns the same Work Care and Diligence to the Presbyters of Ephesus ver 28. And we reade that the Power of Ordination did belong to them and was conferred by the Imposition of their hands and not by the hands of a Bishop only Neglect not the Gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4.14 And we reade also in the Scriptures that they are called Rulers And we beseech you Brethren to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you 1 Thes 5.12 And again Obey them that have the rule over you for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account Heb. 13.17 and therefore seeing they have the same names ordained to the same work to feed God's Flock to ordain Pastors and Elders to rule and govern the Church of God there cannot be a Superiority of Power and Jurisdiction in one Minister above another but I pass by these things and leave them to your reading of the Scriptures and observations of them I now come to the Doctrine intended the Guardian and Protection Paul committed his Ephesians unto God and the Word of his Grace c. Whence note Doct. That God and the Word of his Grace are the best Security and Comfort a departing Minister can commit his People unto When the Father of a Family dies he commits his Wife and Children to his most faithful trusty and assured Friends And when a Minister departeth from and leaveth his People it lyeth him upon in respect of his Office Prudence Desire and Affection of their Eternal Welfare to commit them to the best Protection and Provision he can and which is the best we see in the instance and case of Paul who if there had been a better would have made use of it Such were the Dangers by persecution and infection they were to meet with such was the love he bore to them that he thought the best Security and Comfort could not be too good for them he commended them to God and the Word of his Grace than which there could not be a better found The Doctrine contains two parts 1. A Dereliction 2. A Protection that a loss this a Provision to make up that loss that a ground and occasion of Sorrow this a ground and occasion of Comfort that exposeth to Danger this defends from Danger secures in Danger and delivers out of Danger I shall a little open the Sore much I need not time and experience will declare it and then I will shew you the Plaister and apply it The Sore we see in Pauls departure and experience it in our selves He takes his leave of the Ministers of Ephesus and I of you I shall take the Doctrine in two parts First observe Obs That Ministers must not expect a quiet and setled condition in this world their residence amongst their People is not immoveable and inalterable but they and their People must part asunder as providence brought them together at the first and continues them for a while together so sometimes it suffers them to be parted asunder The Seeds-man you know stands not still in one place but goes from one part of the field unto another according to the will and appointment of his Master Ministers are God's Seeds-men and the World is his field wherein the Seed of his Word is sown and he calls them from one place and country to another and they must obey they are his spiritual Clouds to carry the Rain and Dew of their Ministry to water the Seed sown and as natural clouds are broken by the stormy winds and carried hither and thither to water refresh and enrich the Earth so these spiritual Clouds God's Garden-pots are squandred and carried up and down by the storms of Persecution to water refresh and make fruitful the Garden the Church of God Upon the Persecution that was at Jerusalem the Disciples were scattered up and down Preaching the Gospel and the Kingdom of God Acts 8. When they persecute you saith our Saviour in one city flee ye to another I need no demonstrations and instances to evidence the Truth of the Doctrine the Experience of the Priests Prophets under the Law of the Apostles after the times of our Saviour and the Ministers of the Primitive times of the Gospel are abundant Manifestations of the truth of this Doctrine and our own experience this day can set the seal to it not only I but hundreds yea it may be thousands more are this day singing their funeral Dirges and with Paul taking their leave of their beloved People What a strange Mortality is now in England did ever England nay did ever the Christian World hear of such a Mortality at the same instance of time how dismal is the day of St. Bartholomew On this day was Jerusalem once the Glory and Beauty of the world sacked by Titus and Vespasian On the Eve of this day began that bloody Massacre in Paris On this day is a great part of Englands Ministry slain slain not in their persons but in their Offices The dismal transactions that have befallen the Church of God this day deserve to be engraved in deep and in indeleble Characters on Pillars of the blackest Marble that the Ages and Generations to come may reade and weep showers of tears to quench Jerusalems Flames to wash and bathe the Wounds of the poor massacred Christians and bewail Englands loss But I forbear any more enlargements I come to the grounds and reasons of it 1. The first reason Is barrenness under the means of Grace When God bestows upon a People and Nation means of Grace he expects they should thrive up and grow in Grace and bring forth Fruits to his Glory but if they remain barren he removes the means from them When a man hath taken in a piece of ground to make a Garden or Vineyard of and hath taken pains and laid out cost upon it to fence it to manure it to plant it with the choicest Fruit and finest Flowers he expects a proportionable fruitfulness for the satisfaction and recompence for his cost and pains and if after all is done and many years expectations and waitings it remains unfruitful and disappoints his expectations he withholds his cost care and pains he will fence it no more dig it no more he will not do any thing more unto it Even thus the unfruitfulness of a People under means provoketh God to remove means God chose the People of the Jews before all other Nations of the world to be his pleasant Vineyard Isa 5.11 he did every thing requisite for ornament and security for fruitfulness
and prosperity he fenced it he pickt out the stones from it he built a tower and a winepress and planted it with the choicest Vine and what could have been done more that hath not been done to it vers 23. but when he looked for Grapes behold wild grapes he looked for Judegment but behold Oppression for Righteousness but behold a cry ver 7. and what will God do to his Vineyard will he fence it prune it water it any more No no but he will lay it open to the incursion of enemies and they shall make it a desolation I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up and break down the wall thereof and it shall be troden down ver 5. Yea God would remove the Ordinances of his Word the Means of Grace and Glory from it And I will command the Clouds they rain no rain upon it that is my Prophets shall no more instruct them no more admonish and exhort them the rain of their Ministry shall no more fall upon them ver 6. And this same Judgment our Saviour threatens against the Jews in his dayes because of their barrenness And therefore I say unto you that the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof Mat. 21.43 And when God had waited eight hundred years upon the Jewish Polity and after all means they remained barren yea brought forth wild grapes under the pains of his Prophets of his Son of his Apostles they would not believe and receive him and his Gospel God flings them aside and takes no more pains with them and therefore we find the Apostle when they would not imbrace the Gospel leaving them saying Be it known therefore unto you that the Salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and they will hear it Acts 28.28 When the old World degenerated into prophaness wantoness superstition and idolatry and was drowned in voluptuousness and all the means God had used and all the pains he had taken with them by his Spirit in his Prophets were in vain Threatnings would not affright and drive them from sin nor Promises draw them to piety and purity of Religion God determines to let them alone and take no more pains with them My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man Gen. 6.3 When the Jews in captivity were rebellious and would not be wrought upon by the preaching of Ezekiel God tells him that he should not be a Reprover to them but that his tongue should cleave to the roof of his mouth Ezek. 3.26 VVhat is become of those seven famous Churches of Asia of which this of Ephesus was one to whom John wrote are they not become the seat of Gog and Magog under the Turkish blindness and superstition And why because they degenerated from their primitive purity vigor and fruitfulness into corruptions in Doctrine and Worship into Spiritual lethargy and barrenness They were planted a noble Vine wholly a right Seed but they turned into the degenerate Plant of a strange Vine And therefore if you ask me the reason why God hath suffered so many Ministers to be removed from his People and so many Lights in the Nation to be put under a bushel and obscured I must needs answer Barrenness barrenness Englands barrenness is one great cause why so many of her Ministers mouths ore stopped England for many generations especially of latter years hath enjoyed great plenty of Gospel-enjoyments God hath seemed to be at extraordinary cost and pains with her in sending into his Vineyard pious and painful Ministers who have been willing and diligent to imploy their talent and talents for the conversion of souls and building them up in Grace But what is the fruit it yeelds under such multiplied cost and pains doth it bring forth suitable and seasonable fruit No! no! May not God say of England as once of Israel England is an empty Vine bringing forth fruit unto it self Hos 10.1 He may say to England These three years these ten these twenty years these forty these hundred years and more have I come seeking fruit but find none Alas how many thousands amongst us have leaves but no fruit how many have God and Christ in their mouths but Sin and Satan in their hearts and lives how many have a name to live and yet are dead how many are gilded but not golden Christians making beautiful and glorious the outside when within they are full of deadness and rottenness Yea it were well if there were no worse though these are too bad amongst us if they were leaf-bearing trees only But alas we find an Egypt in Goshen a Sodom in Israel abundance of the Vines of Sodom and pregnant Grapes of Gomorrah in the Vineyard of God! He looked for Grapes but behold wild Grapes for Judgment but behold Oppression for Righteousness but behold a Cry He looked for Knowledge Repentance Reformation but behold gross darkness of Ignorance Impenitency Presumption persevering in sin He looked that England should have been his pleasant Vineyard but alas it is a Desart Land a barren Wilderness a Land abounding with thorns bryars and brambles How doth Ungodliness like an overflowing inundation spread it self through the whole Nation in all places in all societies of men in Cities in Countries Towns and Families What abundance of Pride Prophaness Whoredom and Debauchedness what abundance of Drunkenness Swearing and Prophanation of the Lord's Day is now amongst us In a word what sins were there abounding in Sodom that are not committed amongst us and all this after the enjoyment of God's Word for the space of many generations How many amongst us began to loath the Manna of God's Word and to turn aside after false Lights taking fantastical and deluding apprehensions for Divine Illuminations crying down the morality of the Sabbath and publick Assemblies and voting the Ministry of England Antichristian And have not these things caused many Congregations to want Manna Ministers both is it not just with the Lord when the pains and cost he hath been at for us these hundreds of years and more are no better requited to withhold cost and pains for the future VVhich of you having entrusted a son or servant with a stock of money to trade with in the world and gain advantages by it when you see them not only negligent and idle but prodigal and lavishing in exorbitant courses would still entrust them with more would you not rather take from them what they yet had And do you not think God is as careful of his Sabbaths VVord and Ordinances and seasons of Grace as you are of your Coin And if you will not add fresh supplies to a state-wasting and consuming son surely God will not alwayes continue Ministers and means of Grace unto a barren and unfruitful people How great and vast is the stock of Gospel-enjoyments seasons and opportunities of Grace that God hath entrusted England with and yet very barren how many
People This I shewed you before and applied it Now in the last place and my last opportunity I come to the Grand Cure and Sovereign Remedy for the above named Maladies God and the Word of his Grace The Doctrine is this That God and the Word of his Grace are the best Security and Comfort a departing Minister can commend his People unto The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath divers significations in the New Testament but in this place and some others it properly signifies Fidei alicutus depositum servandam trado committo we commit something to the care and fidelity of another for security and preservation Thus our blessed Saviour when he dyed on the Cross 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit Luke 23.46 And the Apostle Peter exhorting the Christians not to be dispondeâ— and dejected under the Sufferings they met with for Christ's sake but in the midst of their sufferings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls unto him as to a Faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4.19 Thus the Apostle commits these Ephesian Ministers and all the Christians in Ephesus their souls their bodies and all the affairs and concernments of that Church both under Persecution and in the midst of contagious Heresies and Doctrines to the defence and protection of God and to the direction light and preservation of his holy Word So that if you please to give a name to my Text let it be this The departing Pastor's Security and Comfort for his left People c. When the Father of a family lies upon his death-bed and ready to take his ultimum vale of the world commends his Wife and Children to the care counsel and direction to the defence and protection of his most trusly faithful and assured Friends saying I am now going the way of all flesh and my deare Wife will become a discousolate Widow and my tender Children will be fatherless and I shall no more return to perform the duties of an Husband and Father to them no more to counsel and direct them no more to manage and order their affairs for them No more to provide for and maintain them no more to succour and comfort them No more to defend them from injuries and oppressions No more to right them in their wrongs And therefore I leave and commend them to you to be as a Husband to my Widow and a Father to my Fatherless I leave them to your love to pity them I commend them to your wisdome and prudence to counsel and direct them To your care and faithfulness to manage their affairs for them I commend them to your justice to right them in wrongs and defend them from injuries Even thus this blessed Apostle going to Jerusalem these Ephesians should see his face no more No more he should fight with beasts after the manner of men at Ephesus He should confute the Erroneous and Hereticks no more No more should he be with them to appease their dissentions reconcile their divisions he should maintain the Doctrine of Free-Grace the purity and simplicity of Gospel-Worship no more No more to vindicate the Resurrection of the dead No more to perform amongst them the duties of a vigilent Watch-man and faithful Minister to rebuke the Obstinate and such as walk disorderly to comfort the Mourners to strengthen the Weak to reduce the Wanderer to raise and recover them that are fallen And therefore seeing I shall be no more with you to do any of these things for you I leave and commend you to God and the Word of his Grace the best security from and comfort under both Persecution and infectious and seducing Doctrine He is a Watchman and Shepherd instead of all Shepherds and Watchmen He is a Teacher instead of all Teachers And for a people to be left with such Guardians when their Minister must depart from them is good security and comfort for them And this I shall shew first in respect of God 2dly in regard of his Word First To commit you to God is to commit you to him who is furnished with every thing necessary for Security and Comfort 1. It is to commit you to the greatest Love And Love is a strong Security To be committed to the defence of an enemy that hates us with deadly hatred there can be no comfort no security but a fearful and trembling expectation that our defence should prove our destruction But Love addeth strength and security to mud-walls when hatred makes stone-walls full of danger Hatred seeks the destruction of the object hated when Love seeks the welfare and protection of the object beloved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Birds build their nests on high in close obscure places and spare their own crâ—ws to secure and fill their young ones The most timerous creatures grow most resolute and expose themselves to danger and death in combating to preserve their young ones and all from that storgie and affection Nature hath implanted in them What will not Parents do and venture to preserve their tender babes in danger they 'l venture upon pikes and swords upon wild beasts they 'l venture through fire and water to save them And if there be such love in the creature surely there is much more in the Creator their greatest plenitude is but a drop to his immeasurable Ocean Love in the creature is a concrete finite and imperfect but in God it is an abstract infinite and Perfection it self God saith John is Love 1 Joh. 4.8 and this Love of God to his People is an all-conquering Love this stirrs up God to stand as a skreen between his People and danger and primum mobile of their protection What is the reason that all the policies and power of infernal spirits all the stratagems of the Devil's Agents all the black cursings and bloody execrations of ungodly men all the Popish Fulminations and thundrings of Anathema's against God's People take no more effect what is the reason that there is no Inchantment against Jacob nor Divination against Israel It is God's Love that shields off all Balaam you know following the wages of unrighteousness attempted to have cursed Israel but this Love of God opposed it and turned the Curse into a Blessing Deut. 23.5 The Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam but the Lord thy God turned the Curse into a Blessing because he loved thee Hence it is God opposeth the opposers of his People and destroyeth their destroyers saying Touch not mine Anointed and do my Prophets no harm The most glorious Potentates prosperous Kingdoms have become contemptible and heaps of ruine for their opposing oppressing and persecuting God's Church God's Love puts an higher estimate upon the poorest Saint than upon all the Sinful though sceptred crowned adorned and adored Monarchs of the world Why did he smite the first-born in Egypt both of man and beast why did he send his
diminish from it we may not close with added substantial parts of worship Whatever power a Church hath about natural Circumstances they have none about the substance of worship either to add or take away by putting in or putting out To add new Ordinances or parts of Worship is a breach of the second Commandment The Pharisees ered on this hand Mat. 15.19 teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men they pressed Gods Commandments as indifferent and mens Traditions as necessary God commanded to Honour Father and Mother they teach contrary to this ver 4. this was a diminishing They teach that the washing of hands before meat the cleansing of cups c. as necessary to Salvation this was to err by addition See Rev. 22.18 To add in God's Worship is to make our selves wiser than God and to accuse Christ of unfaithfulness in God's House Moses was a faithful Minister in God's House much more was he who was Mose's Master Well be sâ—re in all your worship that it be according to the Parâ—â—â— shewed in the Mount viz. according to â—he â—â—â—script and Standard of the Scriptures 〈◊〉 very dangerous to offer strange fiâ—â— such as God commands not Levit. 10.2 Give not God cause to say to any of us Who hath required this at your hands 8. Be spiritual and zealous in God's Service Take not God's Name in vain either by vain praying hearing or reading Bring your hearts to and keep them at prayer I will pray with my spirit Psal 25.1 Unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul Prayer consists more in the elevation of the understanding and desires than in the lifting up of the eyes and hands and so bring your hearts to the preaching and hearing of the Word Rom. 1.9 Paul served God with his spirit in preaching and we should serve God with our spirits in hearing When Paul preached Lydia's heart was opened that she attended to the things spoken by him Acts 16.14 When God's Embassadours deliver their Embassy imploy your understandings to discern your memories to retain your wills to choose your affections to love and delight in your consciences to apply what you hear And so sing Psalms with your heart as well as with your voice Col. 3.16 Singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. God complains of those who bring their bodies before him but leave their hearts behind them Isa 29.13 They draw near me with their mouth and honour me with their lips but their heart is removed far from me this is a mocking of God Therefore be fervent in spirit when you serve the Lord rest not in bare enjoymment of the Means but get Grace by the Means Labour to enjoy the God of Ordinances in the Ordinances of God God is much displeased with eareless heartless and superficial worship If we offer ignorant heartless and distracted prayers will he accept them Cursed be the Deceiver that hath in his flock a Male and voweth and facrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing Mal. 1.13 14. Well then rest not in a formal customary way of serving God serve him out of Conscience and give him your heart in every duty 9. Maintain an high esteem and make great Conscience of the Lords-Day Keep the whole day holy morning and evening It 's not said remember to keep part of the Sabbath Day But keep the Sabbath viz. the whole Sabbath holy sanctifie it in private as well as in publick in your own houses as well as in Gods House in your Closets as well as in your Families do not only keep a Rest but sanctifie that Rest How By Meditation meditate on the Sabbath of that Sabbatism that remains for the People of God Heb. 4.9 Muse upon the Joys of Heaven which are pure spiritual constant and perpetual Think of the sweet Company you shall have even Angels and Saints besides God and Christ whose Presence makes Heaven Dwell upon your Immunities and Freedom from Sin Temptations of Satan and the World from troubles as Sickness Poverty Crosses and every thing that makes your life uncomfortable Imitate the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ by raising your hearts from Earth and ascending into Heaven by spiritual Comtemplations Moreover continue the day by reading and singing of Psalms attend upon God in publick also let not private duties hinder you from publick neither strive to attend so much upon publick Ordinances as to abridge your selves of private secret Opportunities I think those Christians do much wrong themselvs who spend all the day in attending upon publick prayers and hearing I would not have you strive to hear four or five Sermons a day unless you can take so much time besides as is necessary to meditate of and apply what you hear so order the day that secret Communion with God may fit you for publick and publick Ordinances fit you again for private and secret converse with God It is not much eating but eating moderately and digesting what we eat that encreaseth strength Two or three Sermons seriously heard and ruminated upon in secret do more good than ten Sermons heard without meditation Brethren what shall we think do those sanctifie a Sabbath to the Lord who hear a Sermon and a few prayers and then go to the Alehouse they who drink sleep sport walk or work away the Sabbath all these are forbidden Isa 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight not finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words nor doing thine own works Again Christ and his Disciples did not spend this Day partly in religious Exercises and partly in Recreations or Workings John 20.18 and Acts 20.7 we find there that Christ came amongst the Disciples on the First day and that Paul and the Christians used to spend this Day in Prayer preaching and receiving of Sacraments Moreover God will bless us inwardly and outwardly if we conscienciously observe it Isa 58.14 He will curse us inwardly and outwardly in soul and body if we prophane it See Jer. 17.27 Well then my Brethren do not prefer a Holy-day before the Lords-Day It s sad to think that hundreds should more scruple to work on a Saints-day which is of humane institution than on the Sabbath which is of God's Sirs you of this place have got shall I say an undeserved name of more than ordinary piety but I assure you that if you fall to neglect and prophane the Sabbath as some of our neighbours do you shall lose your very Name I should be very sorry to hear when I am gone that you should prove a Sabbath-breaking-People 10. Make great Conscience of Prayer family and secret Let your houses be Houses of Prayer Those families are called Heathenish Families that call not upon God Psal 79.6 Power out thy Fury upon the Heathen the Families that call not on thy Name Let God have a morning and an evening Sacrifice from you Under the Law God called for the first Fruits and there was a Feast of Ingathering or of the Last Fruits
have Tribulation but be of good Comfort As you should be humble in Prosperity so quiet and chearful in Adversity Carry an even frame in each state Let your Moderation be known unto all men even in bearing Afflictions Be not overmuch cast down with any trouble Let the Enemy see that you have been with God by the Gladness of your Countenance You 'l discredit Religion by too much drooping Let not others say You serve a hard Master God that knows all things knows what condition is best for you and how to deal with you Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes Though Adversity and the Wicked may intermeddle with your outward comforts and take them away yet let them see you have inward Joyes with which they cannot intermeddle nor take away 13. Esteem and approve Time as a precious Commodity Husband Opportunities for Soul-Advantage When you have spare hours improve them in Reading Meditation and Prayer Redeem Time from sleep your callings and recreations in order to Heaven Men usually work sleep and recreate more than necessity calls for and then cry out they have no time for holy Exercises Oh what would damned spirits give for two or three of those hours which we throw away Oh how would they spend them would they sleep play or work them away Nay how would they Pray Read and Repent more in one hour than we do in many Brethren the time is short your work is much you have God to honour your Relations to watch over your own Evidences to make clear O then redeem precious Time do not throw it away Ephes 5.16 15. Contend earnestly for the Faith Jude 3. Maintain fundamental Truths I do not mean that you should fall a wrangling with every one you meet The Apostle indeed takes notice of some men that place their Religion in fightings of Words in conflicting with the Air in janglings and disputings about things they understand not 1 Tim. 1.5 6. Some place their Religion in being of this and that Opinion and indeed they are meer Opinionists Our meaning is this When the Enemies of the Church labour to root up the necessary and very foundation Truths of Christianity that we should stick to them As Paul he did earnestly contend for the Doctrine of Christ being the Messiah against the Jews He maintained the Doctrine of the Resurrection against the Saduces The Doctrine of Justification by Christ's Righteousness against the Teachers of the Law He doth strongly and vehemently maintain Divine Worship against the idolatrous worship of the Athenians And so should we contend opportunely and wisely with tongues and lives Contend against Justification by Works against Idolatry rather than God's Honour should be given to dumb Idols give your honour to the Dust Consider fundamental yea every Truth hath been confirmed by no less than Miracles preserved in a miraculous way and sealed in the Blood both of Christ and of Martyrs Never then sell the Truth but buy it 16. Get longing Desires after the Enjoyment of God in Heaven Let your hearts be often sending sighs thither Long till you be at home Groan earnestly till mortality be clothed with Immortality 2 Cor. 5.1 2. Say as he When shall I come and appear before God Long till you be in Heaven that so you may have constant Communion with God's Angels and Saints that ye may be wholly freed from sin and made perfect in Holiness Let your Conversation be in Heawhilst you are on Earth To this end get more acquaintance with Heaven Study till you be convinced that it is and what it is Understand what that Happiness is that Saints enjoy there When you have got minds informed and hearts affected with it often muse and meditate of it This heavenly Conversation is very sweet it will comfort us when we are never so sad Well may the soul say Now I am full of sin O but then no sin I am now sold under sin O but then I shall be free Now I dishonour God but then I shall honour him altogether Now I am in continual fear of falling into sin but then I shall be past all danger Now I am in continual sorrow but then all tears shall be wip'd away Now I am kept in bondage through fear of death but then there shall be living and no more Death and so no more fears of it Moreover this would teach us to understand the World When we do experimentally taste Heavens Joyes we shall despise Earths Pleasures when we seriously think of that Friendship and Communion we shall have with Friends in Heaven even God Christ Angels and Saints it will wean us from Friends on Earth and make us more willing to leave them And when we think of Heavens Honour we shall undervalue the honours and scorn the contempt we meet with in this world Get now and then upon the top of Pisgah and solace your selves with a view of the Heavenly Canaan Having now given you an account of those main Duties and Counsels that relate more immediately to God and your souls I shall briefly give you the sum of those Counsels I have to leave you about things that relate more nearly to you and others with whom you converse and have to do The first is this 1. Discharge domestical Duties Study and perform the Duties that every Relation calls for Act as Christian Parents and Christian Masters towards your Children and Servants bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord call on them to reâ—d the Scriptures frequently that even of Children they be acquainted with that which will make them wise to Salvation keep them to a form of sound words 2 Tim. 1.13 hold them to the Principles of Religion Catechisms are called A Form of sound words because they keep the Judgment and Affections sound they help to discern betwixt Truth and Error fit and prepare for hearing of the Word preached and for the receiving of the Lord's Supper For want of this we may observe notorious ignorance in grown youth and old men also For want of this how many that are Fathers in years are meer Children in understanding Again pray with and for your Children and Servants and set them to pray by themselves for this end give them time convenient do not so much forward them in your service as to hinder them from serving God your Servants have God to acknowledge honour and serve as well as you they have sins to be pardoned corruptions to be subdued Graces to beg wants to be supplied and souls to be saved as well as you and will you make them throw their souls over-board to secure your goods And so study to carry as Christians in every other Relation Carry as Christian Husbands and Christian Wives are directed and ought to do that the Gospel of Christ be not blamed upon your account And so you that are Children and Servants as you expect your Parents and Masters should discharge their duties towards you so it is expected you should
In keeping Fasts especially making the dayes on which such a sad Calamity befals us Fasting-dayes As this People did Zech. 7.3 compare Jer. 52.12 The Fast of the fifth Month was for the burning of the Temple which with their solemn Assemblies were all consumed and buryed in its Ashes Secondly In abandoning or at least very much abating Joy in many other things continued to us during the continuance of this Cause of Sorrow Nehemiah though a chearful man droops and cannot be chearful as formerly Nehem. 2.1 2. he is heart-struck with the Churches condition and hath little joy in his own preferment a Prince's smile will not chear him whilst God frowns on his People Uriah will not enjoy honest and lawful delight whilst the Ark is hazarded 2 Sam. 11.11 He that denies proffered delights because the Ark is but hazarded how would he have disdained if not abominated such a Proffer if the Ark had been captivated The Wife of Phinehas sets not her heart on the Tydings of a Male-child when the Ark is taken 1 Sam. 4.21 22. There is little Joy in Children when we suspect whether we shall leave them a Gospel or no We may write Ichabod upon the Children born in our houses in a time when God seems to be breaking up house amongst us Oh who can tell what a want the want of Christ's School of Ordinances is to poor Children Thirdly Mentioning not or at least not accounting our own losses that do accompany this for such Calamities seldom come alone comparable to or worthy to be named with this Loss You may see the frame of this Prophets Spirit Psal 137. totum They cannot joy no though in Babylon they were seated in a fruitsoyl by the waters side but there they weep And what is it for it is for Zion no doubt but they had many a doleful thing to remember beside Zion and her concernments much Spoile and Cruelty The Famine that would fill them with many sad thoughts and the Sword and its Executions would mind them of grievous things but it is Zion that makes their heart bleed As this is their chief Joy so this is their chief Sorrow They did not so much miss the Comforts of their native Country as Jerusalem Oh that City of their Solemnities Oh Jerusalem they cannot forget David in his Exile wanted many things besides the Courts of the Lord but he speaks as if he wanted nothing but them nothing as them He breathes not after Sauls court but after God's Court. Some upon the 84th Psalm and the 4th verse do leave out the supplement Even that is in our Translation and reade it as an abrupt and pathetical Exclamation thus Thine Altars O Lord of Hosts q. d. Oh for thine Altars O my God when and where shall I be so happy Thine Altars thine Altars The Birds they have Nests where to lay their Young they have what is agreeable to their nature need and refreshings Oh why have I not where to lay my head Oh why am I kept from my Resting place David in his Exile seeing the Birds come and go to their Nests like a passionate Lover he takes occasion thence to bewaile his sad lot As sometimes Queen Elizabeth did in her Restraints Speed in the Life of Qu. Mary upon the sight of the Milk-maid out of her Prison Windows whose merry singing over her Pail put her into a pensive dump preferring a poor liberty before her Princely Captivity So that the words are an holy piece of Poetry expressing so zealous an Affection to the Ordinances that turned every thing it met with either into Fewel or Bellows Fourthly Lamenting after the Lord during the time of this Sequestration on us for our Delinquencies until the Lord take it off and put us into possession of these dear Liberties and precious Priviledges One of the Daughters of godly Sorrow is vehement desire As in the Creation out of the Waters were formed the winged Fowls 2 Cor. 7.11 And hence comes a sickness of heart until the Mercy desired be obtained No Mercy that is on this side Christ and Grace more panted after This is that which David will seek after Psal 27.4 this is that he thirsts for and longs for that he may see God's Power and Glory as he had seen him in the Sanctuary Psal 63.1 2. Oh that I may but behold those glorious Ordinances If it had not been for hopes of Restitution his heart would have fallen into a deadly swond Psal 27.13 You find the People 1 Sam. 7.2 lamenting after the Lord. We should lye in Tears whilst the Church lyes in its Ruines It is Junius his note upon the Text Pios qui tanto studio conventus sacri constringuntur ut tantisper dum a Deo absunt sint in maerore luctu The Spirit of a good man under such a want should be like that of Mephibosheth in Davids absence 2 Sam. 19.24 Whilst David was driven out he hath no mind of himself nor of any thing he hath And when David is returned he is so full of that that he cares not if he hath nothing else Surely brown bread and Gospel is good fare and a short allowance of Temporals will serve if God will restore and mend our spiritual Pastures Isa 30.20 And thus much of the first Question The second follows which is 2. Quest Why should Church Members be sorrowful for the want of them Answ The Text shall answer this Question that so I may at once more fully explain the Text and confirm the Doctrine and before I give the Reasons that are couched in the Text I shall only premise this That I take it for granted that by Solemn Assemblies are meant all the Appendices of them and takes in the want of the Word Worship Ministry and Ordinances which things do make them sacred and in a peculiar manner solemn Assemblies This premised I come to the first Reason Reas 1. Because they are Solemn Assemblies i. e. Holy Meetings for high and great Ends. The Testification of our duty in our attendance upon and approaches to his Majesty and the Communication of his Grace Mercy and Goodness so that in losing them we are prevented from doing that which is the main end of our being and are interrupted in the enjoying of that which is the means of our present and future well-being But because it is particulars that do affect singularia pungunt I shall a little open this Loss in two particulars First In the want of Assemblies we want the Publick Worship And Secondly We want the things to be enjoyed in Publick Worship and to be received in it 1. In the want of the Solemn Assemblies we want Publick Worship there the People are Psal 102.21 22. gathered together to serve the Lord. The service of God is reckoned among the Jews Priviledges Rom. 9.4 Publick Worship is one of the Jewels in the Jews Cabinet First Publick Worship is that which God loves and that God hath wrought in all